Fall in love with the Phinda Safari experience and enjoy the very best Safari and amazing overnight adventures
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Phinda Safari is a renowned private game reserve located in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Established in 1991, the reserve spans over 70,000 acres and is part of the conservation efforts in the region. One of the standout features of Phinda Safari is its commitment to community empowerment and engagement, emphasizing the importance of local involvement in conservation efforts.
Furthermore, Phinda Safari works closely with local communities through education, healthcare, and sustainable development projects. It’s known for its diverse habitats, including grasslands, woodlands, wetlands, and rare sand forests, which support a wide variety of wildlife. The diverse landscape contributes to an abundance of wildlife, making it a prime destination for safari enthusiasts.
Key Phinda features and attractions include the Big Five – lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and rhinoceroses, with high success rates in cheetah sightings. Moreover, the reserve’s conservation programs have been instrumental in reintroducing species like cheetahs and pangolins. The reserve also hosts rare and endangered species like black rhinos, sunis, and red duikers.
For those seeking a more immersive experience, guided night safaris provide a unique perspective on the nocturnal activities of the wildlife. Birdwatchers can enjoy over 400 bird species, and guests can stay in luxury lodges with unique charm and amenities. Additionally, guests can participate in conservation activities such as rhino tracking and bush clearing, contributing directly to the reserve’s preservation efforts. Experienced guides lead game drives and bush walks for the best wildlife viewing opportunities, and Phinda supports various conservation initiatives to protect wildlife and habitats.
Visitors can also indulge in spa treatments and enjoy traditional South African cuisine as part of their luxury safari experience. Whether you’re a wildlife enthusiast, a nature lover, or a luxury traveler, Phinda Safari offers something truly special for every visitor..
With its breathtaking landscapes, rich biodiversity, and commitment to sustainability, Phinda Safari presents a truly unforgettable African adventure.
What our customers say about Phinda
Phinda was great!
We arrived at Phinda Lodge with a warm welcome by the staff of our lodge with smiling faces and fresh drinks which made us feel at home. Phinda staff provided an overview of the game drive activities followed by an exquisite lunch.
Mark was our guide for the duration of our stay and game drives were the highlight of our stay. We saw the Big 5 and a lot of other animals. He taught us a lot about these animals in the Phinda game reserve. Sunrise and sunset is a special time complimented with drinks and yummy snacks. We could run in the reserve thanks to the staff of Phinda. The lodges are beautiful and pools provide the opportunity to relax and enjoy nature. All staff was super friendly and the exquisite food makes for an unforgettable stay at Phinda!
Mueller Family
nancy paton
2024-10-29
Tertius of Luxury Trains and Safaris booked my safari in October 2024. He was a joy to work with. He was knowledgeable about the different lodges and had great suggestions on itineraries. He even suggested adjusting the timing of the trip to get us better pricing. He double-checked our reservations before we arrived and kept in touch all the while we were on the trip. I will definitely use Tertius and Luxury Trains and Safaris again and I highly recommend his services.
sam frederick
2024-10-20
Awesome vacation a must for everyone!!
Julian Perez
2024-09-03
Rovos train was 11 hrs late getting under way, due to a derailment along the route; replacement train was dirty/dusty/moldy. Only one couple wore semi-formal clothes, 1 night of a 3 nte journey. Potatoes were the only starch served nightly; no soup served w/dinner; only South African wines served with meals; no music at dinner to camouflage the incessant train operating noises. Since staff routinely opened the windows in the corridors, flies and other insects were always landing on the breakfast fruits; no mimosas or bellinis offered with the "lavish" breakfasts. No music or entertainment offered in the lounge or observation cars in the evenings. (not even pre-recorded) The Pretoria to Capetown route offers nothing visually spectacular to see and in April, there were no animals to be seen along the route as one is led to believe based upon the descriptions. Rovos really needs to improve the product and travel agencies and Rovos need to be more truthful in their advertising of this product. What was advertised was not what I observed or received during a 3-day trip. With the current equipment, service, staff deployed as is and the food and drink offered, it won't reach the advertised product that people pay for.
Steve Edewaard
2024-06-18
Tertius from Luxury Trains set up a 3 day tour of Capetown area for us. From the Hotel, to the transportation, to the tours we could not have asked for a more perfect trip! Our guide was very knowledgeable about all aspects of Capetown. In the short time we had they did the best to make sure we saw the most. Table mountain, Cape Hope, wineries, botanical gardens, and an beautiful tour along the coast. Highly recommend this company and the excellent care they provide!
Pia Brown
2024-06-17
Awesome trip...guide and driver great.
Sergio Perrella
2024-05-06
My wife and I spent around 10 days in SA, starting from CapeTown and then crossing to Pretoria traveling the Blue Train. The train trip by itself is a lifetime experience . Nice people, nice accomodtions and nice food. Two nights crossing SA was fantastic.. Returning to CapeTown we spent a week walking around in the wonderful city, with goegeous views and places to visit. Thanks to Mr. Tertius Bester from "Luxury Trains & Safaris" we stayied in nice hotels with fantastic location.
Thank you again "Luxury Trains and Safaris. We will come back.
Ken Slingerland
2024-03-11
My wife and I just returned to Canada from a remarkable Africa trip . Luxury Trains&Safaris/Tertius Bester was an incredible help as we planned our 24 day trip to Africa. Going into this trip with all the unknowns, Tertius was a great help and a must go to source with some or all your bookings. We struggled getting a booking done (via email)with Rovos Train , and came across Luxury trains (Whats app #) and had instant responses from Tertius. As everything was so new to us we had an abundance of questions and had immediate responses . Within couple days we(through Luxury Trains&Safaris)were booked on an awe-inspiring 4 day Rovos train trip from Pretoria to Cape-Town . Not knowing what to expect, and definitely not disappointed , it was a very unique train ride that Tertius booked for us and highly recommended.
As we planned the last week of our trip in Plettenberg Bay (Tsala tree house) and the 12 Apostles in Cape Town Tertius was a awesome with the instant responses in answering our questions and offering to book whatever we needed booked or arranged.
For all your bookings and questions about highlights/ safety / accommodation we highly recommend Luxury Trains . Thank you Tertius for all the work/effort and the straight forward and unbiased responses.
You helped make our trip a huge success 🙌
Ken & Diane
Ornaith Collins
2024-02-19
Yvette went above and beyond to ensure we experienced the trip of a lifetime we had waited so long for. The organisation of our trip was flawless thanks to Yvette. Continous communication and consideration was highly appreciated. We felt safe in her hands. The rovos rail was 100% best food, wine, and extraordinary service. Would highly recommend her services to friends in Ireland. Thank you, Mary and Jarlath
Tina Janis
2024-02-09
I don't think I can add anything to the many excellent reviews posted here except to say that our 25th wedding anniversary trip was so much more than we expected. Every detail was covered, every piece of information we needed to make the experience pleasant & carefree was supplied. Tertius suggested an alternative itinerary to the one Patrick requested, and it was absolutely perfect. We did everything! Johannesburg to Capetown to the Blue Train to Mdluli Lodge in Kruger Park, then Victoria Falls and on to the Rovos Rail and back to Pretoria. We're already planning the next one ... wherever we go, it will be with Tertius' help, we hope and pray! Thank you for an amazing trip. Patrick & Tina McMenamin
michele travers
2023-11-05
We had the best experience and many fond memories
Highly recommend using Tertius to help plan your trip
Very knowledgeable and always recommended the best accommodations
Not one single regret!
Great scenery along the way and a stop at the Kimberly mine on the Blue train.
Awesome food and you meet many great people from over the world while enjoying the passing scenery in a luxury coach
Thank you!
Tertius Bester is a travel expert who specializes in luxury trains and safaris. He has organized journeys for over 20 years, combining rail travel with wildlife encounters. He can help plan trips to South Africa, Botswana, or Zimbabwe. He takes care of every detail from tickets to accommodations and activities. Enjoy the finest service aboard luxurious trains like the Blue Train, Rovos Rail, or Shongololo Express. Experience amazing safaris and see the Big Five with Tertius Bester as your guide. Yvette Lawton joined the team in 2023 with a railway background and dedication to customer service.